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Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 57. No. 1., 2018.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2018.57.01.04

Lower Extremity Injuries in Novice Runners: Incidence, Types, Time Patterns, Sociodemographic and Motivational Risk Factors in a Prospective Cohort Study

Pavao Vlahek orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-2463-5866 ; University of Osijek, School of Medicine, Osijek, Croatia
Valentina Matijević orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-0096-2034 ; Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia

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Abstract

The aim was to determine types and incidence of running-related lower extremity injuries and identify sociodemographic and motivational risk factors in novice runners attending an eight-month running school. Between January 2011 and October 2014, 349 novice runners were included. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and data on running motivation and self-perceived health and fitness were collected. Subjects were screened for lower extremity injuries at regular three-month intervals. The cohort mean age was 35.46±7.31 years, and 271 (79.5%) were female. There were 173 (49.9%) injuries recorded, less frequently among women (42.9% vs. 62.7%, p=0.016; OR 0.878, 95% CI 0.788-0.977). The mean body mass index was 23.89±3.88 kg/m2 at baseline and 22.99±3.35 kg/m2 post-school (p<0.001). Median self-perceived fitness level on a ten-point visual analog scale was 4 (interquartile range (IQR) 3-5) at baseline and 8 (IQR 7-8) post-school (p<0.001). Median self-perceived overall health was 6 (IQR 5-8) at baseline and 8 (IQR 7-9) post-school (p<0.001). The knee had a significantly higher rate of injuries compared to other anatomic regions (p<0.001). Subjects listed improvement of fitness as the most common motivation for entering the school (n=159; 45.7%). In conclusion, novice runners should include strengthening exercises for knee injury prevention into their training routine.

Keywords

Running – injuries; Knee injuries; Lower extremity – injuries; Risk factors; Surveys and questionnaires; Exercise

Hrčak ID:

201658

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/201658

Publication date:

1.3.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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